Reinforced automatic bottom closure

ABSTRACT

A heavy-duty, collapsible carrying carton including an integral handle arrangement and an automatic self-erecting bottom closure arrangement with integral reinforcing means.

[ Aug. 12, 1975 lilnite States atent H91 Desmond et a 229/39 R X 229/39 R 229/41 B X 229/39 R 229/41 B X REINFORCED AUTOMATIC BOTTOM CLOSURE [75] Inventors: John D. Desmond, Joseph J. Hart,

both of Philadelphia, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation of America,

731,708 6/1955 United -Kingdom. 229/41 B Chicago, 111.

Nov. 8, 1974 Primary ExaminerDavis T. Moorhead 22 Filed:

Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Carpenter, Ostis & Lindberg 21 Appl. No.: 522,020

[57] ABSTRACT A heavy-duty, collapsible carrying carton including an [58] Field of Search 229/41 R, 41 B, 39 R integral handle arrangement and an automatic selferecting bottom closure arrangement with integral reinforcing means.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 291,805 l/1884 229/39 R 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG] 21975 FIGJ REINFORCED AUTOMATIC BOTTOM CLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Tatum 291,805 January 8, 1884 Ethridge 1,808,772 June 9, 1931 Parks et a1 2,011,232 August 13, 1935 Neumann 2,017,724 October 15, 1935 Buttery 2,659,526 November 17, 1953 Bolding 3,283,950 November 8, 1966 Gadiel 3,455,498 July 15, 1969 Zeitter September 12, 1972 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventionis directed to a collapsible, heavy-duty retail package-type of carton formed from a one-piece blank of foldable paperboard which has an integral handle structure at the top and a reinforced, selferecting or automatic bottom closure arrangement.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which a carton embodying features of the invention may be formed; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, with portions of the structure broken away, of the lower portion of the carton shown in an erected condition and illustrating the bottom closure arrangement which contains the essential features of the invention.

It will be understood that for purposes of clarity certain elements may have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are believed to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Turning now to the drawing for a better understanding of the invention, and particularly to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the carton, indicated, generally at C, is of a generally tubular construction with a top closure arrangement which includes handle means for carrying the carton and with a bottom closure arrangement which permits the carton to be erected automatically by the application of pressure against opposite corners of the carton. The essential features of invention reside in the bottom closure arrangement which represents an improvement over conventional, automatic bottom closures commonly found in the art of folding cartons.

The carton C, illustrated in FIG. 2, may be formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, indicated generally at B in FIG. 1 of the drawing. The main portion or body of the carton includes a pair of opposed front and rear side walls and 12, a pair of opposed first and second end walls 14 and 16, respectively, and a glue panel 18, all of which are hingedly interconnected along parallel, vertical score lines 19 to form a tubular structure open at the top and bottom.

The upper portion of each of the end walls may be provided with a gusset section, indicated generally at 30, and defined by a transverse score line 32 and a pair of vertical score lines 34 which flare outwardly at their lower ends where they join with the ends of horizontal score line 32 at the point where the latter meet related vertical score lines 19. The horizontal and vertical score lines form a pair of side gusset panels 36 and a center gusset panel 38 which permit the gusset section 30 to be depressed when the carton is erected and closed to reduce the cross-sectional area at the upper end of the carton. If desired, center portions 38 may be provided with upwardly extending tabs 39 which assist in forming and closing the top of the carton as they are folded inwardly under the top closure panels.

Still referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that front and rear side panels 10 and 12 may be provided with hand hold openings 40 and 44 which are definedby generally U-shaped cut lines 42 and 46, respectively.

The top closure arrangement, which is described in greater detail in a copending application, Ser. No. 527,021 filed the same date as this application and by the same inventors, includes a pair of inner and outer top closure flaps indicated generally at at and 60, which are hingedly attached of the upper edges of rear and front side walls 12 and 10, respectively.

Top closure inner flap 50 includes a first section 52 hingedly attached to one edge to the upper edge and rear side wall 12 along a score line 53 and a second section 54 hingedly attached to the opposite edge of first section 52 along a score line 55.

Top closure outer flap 60 includes a primary section 62 hingedly attached at one edge along score line 63 to the upper edge of front side wall 10 and having a lock tab 64 hingedly attached to its opposite edge along a score line 65.

The bottom closure arrangement of the carton as seen in both FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a plurality of bottom closure flaps 72, 74 and 76 which are hingedly attached to the lower edges of front side wall 10, rear side wall 12, first end wall 14, and second end wall 16, respectively, along horizontal score lines 77.

Bottom closure flaps ,70 and 72 are preferably of similar construction .and each includes a bottom panel 80 hinged at one edge to the lower edge of a related side wall on score line 77. Each bottom panel 80 includes, at one end, a primary section 82, which has a width equal to the width of the related end wall, and, at the other end, a secondary section 84 which decreases in width as it approaches the primary section at the center portion of the bottom panel where the primary section and secondary section join to form a preferably angular notch 86 adapted to meet with a corresponding notch in the bottom panel of the flap on the other side wall to provide interlocking engagement therebetween.

Bottom closure flaps 70 and 72, also, each include a relatively narrow reinforcing panel 88 which is hingedly attached along score line 89 to the edge of the primary section 82 of the bottom panel which is opposite from and parallel to the edge attached to the related side wall. The purpose of the reinforcing panel is described later in the application.

Bottom closure flaps 74 and 76, which are hingedly attached to first and second end walls 14 and 16, respectively, each include a first panel 90 attached to the related end wall on score line 77 and a second panel 92 which is hingedly attached to the first portion along a score line 93 extending at an acute angle with respect to score line 77.

When the carton is manufactured, the side walls, ends walls, and glue panel are folded into position and glued to form a tubular structure open at the top. At the same time, the bottom closure flaps are each folded inwardly 180 in face-to-face relation with their respective side and end walls, with the second panels of each of the end wall bottom closure flaps being reverse folded on score-lines 93 so as to lie in face-to-face contact with the first panels between said first panels and related bottom panels until the carton is erected. The second panels are adhesively secured to adjacent end portions of related side wall bottom closure flap bottom panels. Thus, although the rarton may be shipped in a collapsed position, it may be easily erected by exerting pressure against diagonally opposed corners of the carton whereby the bottom closure flaps are pressed into a horizontal position with the side wall bottom closure flap bottom panel being interlocked by the interengagement of the respective notches 86. It will be noted that when the carton is in erected position, the reinforcing flaps 88 are disposed to lie against the inner surfaces of the related side walls so as to reinforce the bottom panels, providing rigid bottom corners between the reinforcing panels 88 and the bottom panels 80. The rigid corners so formed prevent or reduce the possibility of the bottom panels bowing outwardly or downwardly when the carton is filled thereby reinforcing the bottom closure arrangement and permitting the carton to be made from a lighter caliber of board than would be possible without the use of the reinforcing flaps.

After the carton has been set up and filled, the top of the carton may be closed by first folding in the tabs 39, then folding the inner closure flap over the top of the carton with the second section being tucked in behind the front side wall, and then the outer closure flap folded over the inner closure flap with lock tab 64 being inserted into opening 50 which serves the dual purpose of a hand hold and opening for the lock tab.

We claim:

1. In a heavy-duty, collapsible carrying carton adapted to be brought from a collapsed condition to an erected condition by the application of pressure against two diagonally opposed corners thereof and being formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, the combination of:

a. opposed pairs of major and minor side walls hingedly interconnected to form a tubular structure open at the top and bottom;

b. at least one of said major side walls including handle means for grasping and carrying the carton;

c. top and bottom closure means for closing the top and bottom of the carton;

d. said bottom closure means including opposed first and second pairs of closure flaps associated with said pairs of major and minor side walls, respectively;

e. said closure flaps of said first pair each including: i. a flat, unscored, bottom panel hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related major side wall and presenting in a medial area thereof a recess adapted to interlock with a corresponding recess in the bottom panel of the other closure flap of said first pair when the carton is in erected condition;

ii. a reinforcing side panel hingedly attached to said bottom panel, at an edge parallel to and opposite from the edge of the bottom panel which is hinged to a major side wall, and disposed to lie against the inner surface of the opposed major side wall when the carton is in an erected condition;

f. said closure flaps of said second pair each including:

i. a first panel section hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related minor side wall;

ii. a second panel section hingedly attached to said first panel section and in fold-back relation therewith, when said carton is in a collapsed condition;

iii. said second panel section being secured to an adjacent bottom panel and interposed between said first panel section and said bottom panel when the canon is in a collapsed condition.

2. In a heavy-duty, collapsible carton adapted to be brought from a collapsed condition to an erected condition by the application of pressure against two diagonally opposed corners thereof and being formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, the combination of:

a. opposed pairs of major and minor side walls hingedly interconnected to form a tubular structure open at the top and bottom;

b. top and bottom closure means for closing the top and bottom of the carton;

c. said bottom closure means including opposed first and second pairs of closure flaps associated with said pairs of major and minor side walls, respectively;

d. said closure flaps of said first pair each including: i. a flat, unscored, bottom panel hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related major side wall and presenting in a medial area thereof a recess adapted to interlock with a corresponding recess in the bottom panel of the other closure flap of said first pair when the carton is in erected condition;

a reinforcing side panel hingedly attached to said bottom panel at an edge parallel to and opposite from the edge of the bottom panel which is hinged to a major side wall, and disposed to lie against the inner surface of the opposed major side wall when the carton is in an erected condition;

e. said closure flaps of said second pair each including:

i. a first panel section hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related minor side wall;

ii. a second panel section hingedly attached to said first panel section and in fold-back relation therewith, when said carton is in a collapsed condition;

iii. said second panel section being secured to an adjacent bottom panel and interposed between said first panel section and said bottom panel when the carton is in a collapsed condition.

3. In a heavy-duty, collapsible carrying carton adapted to be brought from a collapsed condition to an erected condition by the application of pressure against two diagonally opposed corners thereof and being formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, the combination of: 1

a. opposed pairs of major and minor side walls hingedly interconnected to form a tubular structure open at the top and bottom;

b. top and bottom closure means for closing the top and bottom of the carton;

c. said bottom closure means including opposed first and second pairs of closure flaps associated with said pairs of major and minor side walls, respectively;

d. said closure flaps of said first pair each including:

i. a bottom panel hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related major side wall and presenting in a medial area thereof a recess adapted to interlock with a corresponding recess in the bottom panel of the other closure flap of said first pair when the carton is in erected condition;

ii. a reinforcing side panel hingedly attached to said bottom panel, at an edge parallel to and opposite from the edge of the bottom panel which is hinged to a major side wall, and disposed to lie against the inner surface of the opposed major hingedly interconnected to form a tubular structure open at the top and bottom;

b. top and bottom closure means for closing the top and bottom of the carton;

c. said bottom closure means including opposed first (1. said closure flaps of said first pair each including:

i. a bottom panel-hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related major side wall and presenting in a medial area thereof a recess adapted to interlock with a corresponding recess in the bottom panel of the other closure flap of said first pair when the carton is in erected condition;

ii. a reinforcing side panel hingedly attached to said bottom panel, at an edge parallel to and opposite from the edge of the bottom panel which is side wall when the carton is in an erected condition;

e. said closure flaps of said second pair each including a panel hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related minor side wall and secured to an adjacent bottom panel.

4. In a heavy-duty, collapsible carrying carton adapted to be brought from a collapsed condition to an erected condition by the application of pressure against two diagonally opposed corners thereof and being formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, and interposed between said related panels when the combination of: the carton is in a collapsed condition.

a. opposed pairs of major and minor side walls hinged to a major side wall, and disposed to lie against the inner surface of the opposed major side wall when the carton is in an erected condition;

e. said closure flaps of said second pair each including a side panel hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related minor side wall;

f. a pair of panel sections each of which is hingedly attached to one of related side panel and bottom panel and being secured to the other of said panels 

1. In a heavy-duty, collapsible carrying carton adapted to be brought from a collapsed condition to an erected condition by the application of pressure against two diagonally opposed corners thereof and being formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, the combination of: a. opposed pairs of major and minor side walls hingedly interconnected to form a tubular structure open at the top and bottom; b. at least one of said major side walls including handle means for grasping and carrying the carton; c. top and bottom closure means for closing the top and bottom of the carton; d. said bottom closure means including opposed first and second pairs of closure flaps associated with said pairs of major and minor side walls, respectively; e. said closure flaps of said first pair each including: i. a flat, unscored, bottom panel hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related major side wall and presenting in a medial area thereof a recess adapted to interlock with a corresponding recess in the bottom panel of the other closure flap of said first pair when the carton is in erected condition; ii. a reinforcing side panel hingedly attached to said bottom panel, at an edge parallel to and opposite from the edge of the bottom panel which is hinged to a major side wall, and disposed to lie against the inner surface of the opposed major side wall when the carton is in an erected condition; f. said closure flaps of said second pair each including: i. a first panel section hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related minor side wall; ii. a second panel section hingedly attached to said first panel section and in fold-back relation therewith, when said carton is in a collapsed condition; iii. said second panel section being secured to an adjacent bottom panel and interposed between said first panel section and said bottom panel when the carton is in a collapsed condition.
 2. In a heavy-duty, collapsible carton adapted to be brought from a collapsed condition to an erected condition by the application of pressure against two diagonally opposed corners thereof and being formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, the combination of: a. opposed pairs of major and minor side walls hingedly interconnected to form a tubular structure open at the top and bottom; b. top and bottom closure means for closing the top and bottom of the carton; c. said bottom closure means including opposed first and second pairs of closure flaps associated with said pairs of major and minor side walls, respectively; d. said closure flaps of said first pair each including: i. a flat, unscored, bottom panel hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related major side wall and presenting in a medial area thereof a recess adapted to interlock with a corresponding recess in the bottom panel of the other closure flap of said first pair when the carton is in erected condition; ii. a reinforcing side panel hingedly attached to said bottom panel at an edge parallel to and opposite from the edge of the bottom panel which is hinged to a major side wall, and disposed to lie against the inner surface of the opposed major side wall when the carton is in an erected condition; e. said closure flaps of said second pair each including: i. a first panel section hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related minor side wall; ii. a second panel section hingedly attached to said first panel section and in fold-back relation therewith, when said carton is in a collapsed condition; iii. said second panel section being secured to an adjacent bottom panel and interposed between said first panel section and said bottom panel when the carton is in a collapsed condition.
 3. In a heavy-duty, collapsible carrying carton adapted to be brought from a collapsed condition to an erected condition by the application of pressure against two diagonally opposed corners thereof and being formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, the combination of: a. opposed pairs of major and minor side walls hingedly interconnected to form a tubular structure open at the top and bottom; b. top and bottom closure means for closing the top and bottom of the carton; c. said bottom closure means including opposed first and second pairs of closure flaps associated with said pairs of major and minor side walls, respectively; d. said closure flaps of said first pair each including: i. a bottom panel hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related major side wall and presenting in a medial area thereof a recess adapted to interlock with a corresponding recess in the bottom panel of the other closure flap of said first pair when the carton is in erected condition; ii. a reinforcing side panel hingedly attached to said bottom panel, at an edge parallel to and opposite from the edge of the bottom panel which is hinged to a major side wall, and disposed to lie against the inner surface of the opposed major side wall when the carton is in an erected condition; e. said closure flaps of said second pair each including a panel hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related minor side wall and secured to an adjacent bottom panel.
 4. In a heavy-duty, collapsible carrying carton adapted to be brought from a collapsed condition to an erected condition by the application of pressure against two diagonally opposed corners thereof and being formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, the combination of: a. opposed pairs of major and minor side walls hingedly interconnected to form a tubular structure open at the top and bottom; b. top and bottom closure means for closing the top and bottom of the carton; c. said bottom closure means including opposed first and second pairs of closure flaps associated with said pairs of major and minor side walls, respectively; d. said closure flaps of said first pair each including: i. a bottom panel hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related major side wall and presenting in a medial area thereof a recess adapted to interlock with a corresponding recess in the bottom panel of the other closure flap of said first pair when the carton is in erected condition; ii. a reinforcing side panel hingedly attached to said bottom panel, at an edge parallel to and opposite from the edge of the bottom panel which is hinged to a major side wall, and disposed to lie against the inner surface of the opposed Major side wall when the carton is in an erected condition; e. said closure flaps of said second pair each including a side panel hingedly attached at one edge to a lower edge of a related minor side wall; f. a pair of panel sections each of which is hingedly attached to one of related side panel and bottom panel and being secured to the other of said panels and interposed between said related panels when the carton is in a collapsed condition. 